Circuit breaker



March 8, 1955 F, GELZHEISER 2,703,827

CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed 0C1 31, 1952 Fig.l. g FT 0 e INVENTOR Francis L. Gelzheiser United States Patent 1 2,703,827 cmcurr BREAKER Application October 31, 1952, Serial No. 317,999 9 Claims. (Cl. 200-18) This invention relates to circuit breakers and more particularly to attachments for manually operating a plurality of circuit breakers simultaneously.

An object of the invention is to provide means for interconnecting the operating handles of adjacent circuit breakers to provide for simultaneous manual movement of the handles to certain positions.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for interconnecting the handles of adjacent circuit breakers according to the preceding paragraph wherein any one of the handles is free to operate to an intermediate indicating position automatically upon automatic operation of the circuit breaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a doublepole circuit breaker for a three-wire circuit having a solid neutral, by connecting the handles of two singlepole breakers in such a manner that neither pole of the two-pole breaker can be manually operated to the off position without the other pole being operated to the same position; but at the same time permitting one pole to be tripped opened automatically to open one side of the circuit without opening the other side of the circuit, and to have the handle indicate that such tripping operation has taken place. This has the advantage that a person desiring to open both sides of the circuit cannot inadvertently move only one handle to the ofi position and leave the other side of the circuit energized, which might cause someone to receive a shock from the side of the circuit which is supposed to be deenergized but is not. On the other hand, if there is an overload on only one side of the circuit, one pole can trip open to clear the overloaded side of the circuit without causing a needless service interruption of the other side of the circuit which is not overloaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device according to the preceding paragraphs that is simple, reliable in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention, both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the cover of a load center or panelboard having adjoining circuit breakers mounted thereon embodying the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l but showing one of the circuit breaker handles in the trip indicating position it assumes upon automatic operation of the circuit breaker;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view. partly in section showing the handle tie;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view through one of the handle ties illustrating its construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view showing the punching from which the handle tie is formed;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view, with the cover plate broken and partly in section, of a circuit breaker to which the invention may be readily applied; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view partly in section showing the handle tie applied to three circuit breakers.

The circuit breakers illustrated are of the type disclosed in copending application Serial No. 592,804, filed May 9, 1945, now U. S. Patent 2,624,816, granted January 6, 1953, by Melvin Bingenheimer and assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The circuit breakers shown are merely by way of illustration as it will be understood that the invention may readily be applied to many other types of circuit breakers.

Referring to Fig. 6 of the drawing, the circuit breaker 2,703,827 Patented Mar. 8, 19,55

ice

comprises generally a housing 11, and a cover plate 13 therefor shown broken away, both being constructed by molded insulating material, stationary contact means 15, movable contact means 17, an operating mechanism 19 and a trip device 21.

The stationary contact 15 is rigidly mounted on the inner end of an angular terminal member 23 positioned in a slot in the housing 11. The other end of the terminal 23 is provided with a connecting device 27 for connecting the terminal 23 in an electric circuit. At the opposite end of the housing 11 is a terminal 29 which at its inner end supports the trip device 21 and which is provided at its outer end with a connecting means 31 for connecting the terminal 29 in an electric circuit.

The movable contact 17 is rigidly mounted on the free end of a U-shaped switch arm 37 having its legs 57 (only one being shown) supported in notches in the legs 55 of a U- haped operating lever 35 of molded insulating material. The operating lever 35 is pivotally supported by means of trunnions 47 molded integral therewith and. mounted in an opening in the housing 11 and in a corresponding opening in the cover plate 13. An overcenter operating spring 39 is connected under tension between the bight of the U-shaped switch arm 37 and a releasable carrier 33 pivoted on a pin 41 supported in comparison to openings in the housing 11 and the cover plate 13.

The operating lever 35 is provided with an integral operating handle 49 extending through an opening 51 in the housing 11. The switch arm 37 is electrically connected by means of a flexible conductor 59 to the free end of a tripping bimetal element 45 forming part of the trip device 21, the bimetal element being suitably secured, preferably by welding, terminal 29. v

The trip device 21 comprises the bimetal element 45, connected by means of the flexible conductor 59 tozthe switch arm 37, an electromagnet including a channelshaped magnetic member or yoke 63, a movable armature 65, a latch member 67, and a resilient member 69 rigidly secured to the bimetal element 45 for supporting thearmature 65 and the latch member 67. The terminal 29 is secured by means of a screw 71 to the end wall of the housing 11. The bimetal element 45 is rigidly secured to the terminal 29, and the resilient member 69 is rigidly secured to the bimetal element 45 just below the point of attachment of the bimetal to the terminal 29. The lower end of the resilient member or spring 69 is looped as shown, and the upwardly extending end thereof carries an insulating button 77 for insulating the free end of the bimetal element 45 from the free end of the resilient member 69. The armature 65 is secured to the spring 69 by means of a rivet 81 which also serves to secure the latch 67 to the spring 69.

The circuit breaker is shown in Fig. 6 in the tripped open position. In this position, the releasable carrier 33 has been released by the latch 67 upon operation of the trip device and is biased into engagement with a projection 61 on the housing 11 by the overcenter spring 39. It Will be seen that the overcenter spring also biases the switch arm 37 to the open position where it engages the projection 61. Also the operating lever 35 has been moved to an mtermediate indicating position in which it engages a pin 83 in the releasable carrier 33.

With the breaker in the tripped open position following an automatic opening operation, it is necessary to reset and relatch the mechanism before the breaker contacts can be closed. This is accomplished by moving the handle 49 clockwise from the tripped or lIldl'.

eating position as far as it will ment, the legs 55 the contacts are closed by counterclockwise movement position as far as it This movement of the and the operating lever 35 moves of the handle 49 from the OE will go to the on position. operating handle 49 to the inner end of thethe latter part of this movement,

Thereafter,

the legs 57 of the switch arm 37 across to the right of the llfie" Of aCfiOIi' (if the overcenter spring 39" which then acts to move the switch arm to the closed position to close the contacts with a snap action.

The contacts are opened manually V handle 49 clockwise from the on to the off posi- This movement of the handle 49 and operating lever 35carries the legs 57 of theswitch arm 37 across to the left of the line of action of the'overcenter spring 39 which then acts to move the switch member 37 to the open position to open the contacts'with a snap action. circuit breaker is adapted to be autrm'zaiical v The tripped open instantaneously inresp'onse to overloadcurvalue; or short-circuit curby moving the rents above a predetermined rents, and after a time delay on lesser overloads by means of the trip device 21'. In the closed position of the breaker, the latch element 67 engages and restrains the carrier 33' in operative position. Upon the occurrence of an overload current below a predetermined value of, for instance, 1'000% of normal rated current. the bimetal- 45 becomes heated and when heated a predetermined am'ount bends toward the right, and the free end of the bimet'al element engages the insulating button 77 nioving the free endof the spring 69 in tlie same direction. This action bends the spring 69 and causes the latch 67 to release the carrier 33 whereupon the overcenterspring 39 moves the carrier 33 clockwise moving the line of action of the overcenter spring 39 over to the right of the center line of the switch arm 37. Thereafter, the spring 39 acts to move the switch arm 7 to the open position with a snap action. The movement'of the carrier 33 is arrested by striking the projection 61 on the housing 11'.

Upon the occurrence of a heavy overload current,

such for example as 1000% or more of rated current, the current flowing through the bimetal element 45 energizes the electromagnet a sufiicient amount to cause instantaneous attraction and movement of the armature 65. This bends the spring 69 causing the latch 67 to efifect instantaneous opening of the contacts. The mechanism is reset and the conautomatic opening operation in the previously described manner.

y on two or more circuit breakers are mounted side by side; for instance, in load centers, it is sometimes desirable to manually operate all or a plurality of the circuit breakers to the on and off positions and also'to the freset positions simultaneously. It is, however, essential that the mechanism of each free to operate automaticall to open the breaker independently of the other mechanism. It is also essential that the' handle of the affected breaker be permitted to go to its indicating position to indicate its tripped position.

Shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are two circuit breakers mountd side byside on a panel 85 with their operating handles 49 extending through to the front of the panel. dle extension 87 is mounted on the end of each of the handles by means of screws 89 and 91. the handle extensions extending toward and terminating adiacent each other. The handles 49 are provided with openings 93 (see Fig. 6) through which the screws 39 and 91 extend.

The handle extensions 87 are formed from a punching shown enlarged in Fig; 5. The side portions 95, the end portions 97 and 99 and the center portion 1111 are formed at right angles to the top portion 1 3 to form the box-like handle extension or tie. After the member 87 is formed, the space between the side portions 95 and between the end portion 97 and the portion 101 is substantially rectangular in cross section and snugly fits over the end of the handle 49 of the circuit breaker. The handle extensions are mounted on the handles of adjacent circuit breakers with the end portions 99 toward each other. Holes 105 and 107 are provided re spectively in the end portion 97 and in the portion 191 which, when these portions are formed as shown in Fig. 4; are in alignment" to receive the screws 89 and 91. Self tapping screws may be used to engage the holes 107orthe holes 107 may be tapped to receive a threaded U portion of thescrews.

the screws may be of threads engaging the inside material of the handle 49. is formed in the top portion Instead of tapping the holes N7.

of the hole 93 in the molded A rectangular opening 109 103 when the" portion 101 breaker be I the self-tapping type with their i Fig. 7

is formed inwardly as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, and this opening forms a sight opening through which the breaker rating, which is usually marked on the end of the handle, may be observed.

One of the screws 89 or 91 is longer than the other and extends into the adjacent handle extension Where it cooperates with the side portions to form a lostmotion connection between the two handles. As shown, the screw 91 extends into the handle extension on the left, but the same results would be obtained if the screws 89 and 91 were interchanged.

The lost-motion connection between the handles of the adjacent breakers permits a limited independent movement of either handle in the event of automatic openingof one of the breakers. This provides for movement of the handle of the affected breaker to the indicating position (Figs. 2' and 6) without associated movement of the handle of the unaffected breaker. When the handle of the tripped-breaker is moved to reset the mechanism, the handle tie causes movement of the other breaker to the off position. The connection between the handle ties or extensions is such that movement of one of the handles from the on position'to the 011" position is insuflicient to move the other handle far enough in closing direction to close the other breaker. Consequently, it is necessary to move both handles to the on position in order toclose the breakers. Movement of one of the handles in opening direction from the on position causes movement of the other handle in opening direction and opening of both breakers;

If it should be desired to' be able to move one breaker to the Oh position while the other breaker remains in the on position, the long screw 91 may be replaced by another short screw 89i This will permit entirely independent operation with the two handle extensions 87 merely indicating that the two breakers should be normally operated together. Thus the design of the handle ties is such that they can be used in either manner, depending merely upon the length of screw used.

Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the invention in which the handles of three circuit breakers are tied together by means of the lost-motion connection previously described. According to the Fig. 7 modification, the handles 49 of the outerbreakershave mounted thereon handle extension members 87 like the handle extensions previously described with the overhanging portions extending inwardly toward the handle of the center breaker. The handle 49 of the center breaker has a handle extension 111 mounted thereon which is provided with overhanging portions on each side of the handle. The handle extension 111 is similar to the extension 87 having spaced side portions 113 formed downwardly from a top portion and also having a center portion 115 similar to the portion 101 (Fig; 4) of the extension 87 by which the extension 111 is secured to the handle 49. A screw 117 extends through a hole in the center handle 49' and threadedly engages a tapped hole in the center portion 115 to rigidly secure the handle extension 111 to the handle 49 of the center breaker. The handle extensions 87 of the outer breakers-are secured to their respective handles by screws 119 like the screw 91 (Fig. 3) which are long enough to extend into the spaces between the side portions 113 at each end of the extension 111.

The operation of the handle tie or extension shown in is similar to that previously described for those shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. The lost-mottion connection between the handles of adjacent breakers permits the handle of any of the breakers to move to the indicating position in the eventthe breaker is automatically tripped while the handles of the other two breakers remain in the on position. If two of the breakers trip out automatically, the handles of the two afiected breakers will go to the indicating position while the handle of the third breaker remains in the on position. However, it any one of the handles is manually moved to the off position, the other two handles will be moved toward the off position, thus opening all of the breakers simultaneously. All three handles must be moved to the off position to reset the tripped breaker or breakers and must also be moved simultaneously to the on positionto close the breakers.

The invention provides a simple and inexpensive device for operatively relating the operating handles of two or more adjacehtly mounted circuit breakers whereby all'of the break'ersWill be opened upon manual operation of one of the handles but which will permit at least one of the circuit breakers to trip out and its handle go to an indicating position without affecting the other breaker or breakers. The device is readily installed and removed in the field without disturbing the position or mounting of the breakers.

While the invention has been disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it is to be understood that various changes in the structural details and arrangement of parts thereof may be made without departing from some of the essential features of the invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a circuit breaker assembly, adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms, each of said circuit breaker mechanisms being provided with a manual operating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment when said circuit breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element mounted on each of said operating handles and having spaced members extending toward the other operating handle, means securing said elements to said handles, the securing means for one of said elements extending between the spaced members of the other of said elements to form a lost-motion connection between said operating handles permitting movement of one of said operating handles to an indicating position without disturbing the position of the other operating handle.

2. In a circuit breaker assembly, adjacently mounted automatic circuit breaker mechanisms, each of said circuit breaker mechanisms being provided with a manual operating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment in corresponding positions of said breaker mechanisms, a separate member mounted on each of said handles, each of said members having spaced portions extending toward each other to provide for common movement of said handles to certain positions, and securing elements for securing said members to said handles, one of said securing elements extending between the spaced portions of the other member to provide a lost-motion connection between said handles to permit independent movement of said handles to an indicating position.

3. In a circuit breaker assembly, adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms each provided with an exterior operating handle, said handles being substantially in alignment when said circuit breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element mounted on each of said handles, each of said elements being formed from a single punching and having spaced mounting portions formed thereon for receiving a fastening member to secure said element to said handle, said element also having spaced side portions formed thereon extending toward the other element to provide for common movement of said handles to certain positions, one of said fastening members extending between the spaced side portions of the other of said elements to form a lost-motion connection between said handles to permit independent movement of said handles to an indicating position.

4. In a circuit breaker assembly comprising three adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms, each provided with an operating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment when said breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element mounted on the center handle and having spaced portions extending on each side of said center handle, an element mounted on each of the outer handles having spaced portions extending toward said element on said center handle, said elements providing for common movement of all of said handles to certain positions, means for securing each of said elements to its corresponding handle, the securing means for said outer elements extending between the spaced portions at opposite ends of said center element to form lost-motion connections between adjacent handles to permit independent movement of any one of said handles to an indicating position.

5. In a circuit breaker assembly comprising three adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms, each provided with an operating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment when said breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element mounted on the center handle and having spaced portions extending on each side of said center handle, an element mounted on each of the outer handles having spaced portions extending toward said element on said center handle,

said elements providing for common movement of all of said handles to certain positions, means for securing each of said elements to its corresponding handle, the securing means for said outer elements extending between the spaced portions at opposite ends of said center ele ment to form lost-motion connections between adjacent handles to permit any two of said handles to move to an indicating position without disturbing the position of the third handle.

6. In a circuit breaker assembly, adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms, each of said circuit breaker mechanisms being provided with an operating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment when said breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element removably mounted on each of said operating handles and having spaced members extending toward the other operating handle, means securing each of said elements to its handle, the securing means for one of said elements extending between the spaced portions of the other of said elements to form a lost-motion connection between said operating handles permitting independent movement of said operating handles to an indicating position, and said elements being mounted on and removable from said handles without disturbing the mounting of said breaker mechanisms.

7. In a circuit breaker assembly, adjacently mounted circuit breaker mechanisms, each provided with anoperating handle, said operating handles being substantially in alignment when said breaker mechanisms are in corresponding positions, an element mounted on each of said handles, each of said elements being formed from a single punching and having spaced mounting portions formed thereon for receiving a fastening member to fasten said element to said handle, one of said mounting portions when formed providing an opening coinciding with the end of said handles, said elements also having spaced side portions formed thereon to provide for common movement of said handles to certain positions, one of said fastening members extending between the spaced side portions of the other of said elements to form a lostmotion connection between adjacent handles to permit independent movement of said handles to an indicating postion.

8. A handle extension for effecting simultaneous manual operation of adj acently mounted circuit breakers while permitting independent movement of the handles to an indicating position comprising a member formed from a single punching, said member having end portions formed thereon and a center portion struck out therefrom, said center portion and one of said end portions having aligned openings thereon to receive a fastening member for securing said handle extension on the handle, said handle extension having side portions formed thereon and spaced apart in the direction of movement of said handles, said side portions at the other end having an opening therebetween for receiving the end of the fastening member on the handle of an adjacent circuit breaker to form a lost-motion connection between the handle extensions on the handles of adjacent breakers.

9. A handle extension for effecting simultaneous manual movement to certain positions of the handles of adjacently mounted circuit breakers while permitting independent movement of the handles to an indicating position comprising a box-like member, said member having end portions pormed thereon and a center portion struck out therefrom parallel to said end portions, said center portion and one of said'end portions having aligned openings' thereon for receiving a screw to fasten said member to said handle, said member having side portions spaced apart in the direction of movement of said handle a distance greater than the diameter of said screw, and said side portions at the other end defining an opening into which the fastening member on the handle of an adjacent circuit breaker extends to form a lost-motion connection between handle extensions on the handles of adjacent breakers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 22,218 Von Hoorn Nov. 3, 1942 2,096,545 Jackson Oct. 19, 1937 2,099,585 Von Hoorn Nov. 16, 1937 2,209,353 Sachs July 30, 1940 2,277,645 Johnson Mar. 24, 1942 

